McAllaster’s Lecture covers “Christian Culture in an Age of Anxiety.”

Published: May 08, 2024

This year’s McAllaster Honors Lecture wasn’t a lecture at all. Instead, the April 15 event was a panel discussion involving four Greenville University faculty members, each offering their perspective on the role of Christians in an age of widespread anxiety.

The McAllaster Scholars Honors Program, named in honor of former professor of English Dr. Elva McAllaster, is designed to push academically gifted students to continue the legacy of serving God through Christian learning. This annual lecture allows scholars to engage with the student body and reach a deeper connection between faith and education.

GU history professor and director of the McAllaster Scholars Honors Program, Kollin Fields, acted as moderator as the panel sought to explore the following questions:

·What exactly is “Christian Culture,” and how should it be formed?

·Are we living in an age of anxiety, and why are students and the broader public seen as anxious?

·How is social media having a negative “social” effect on younger generations?

·What is the path to reach a balance between prioritizing mental health and what the Christian Culture has to offer?

Panelist Dr. Lindani Mbunyuza-Memani, has completed three master’s degrees and has another in the works while keeping herself immersed in the research of culture, identities, and representations of (previously) oppressed populations. She addressed questions about the concept of a “Christian culture,” and how to approach a balance between advocating for mental health in education while not seeing anxiety as a core identity of the students.

Dr. Mauricio Nava has traveled the world to gain valuable education and information about the literature of the original peoples of Mexico and the Hispanic immigrants in the U.S. He touched on the contrast in anxiety between the current generation and those that came before. When it comes to the difference in treating anxiety in different cultures, Dr. Nava noted, “In Mexico, mental health is not taboo. It is a natural part of healthcare. We do not want our anxiety to be at an unmanageable level, but there is a certain level of anxiety that helps you be your best.”

A lengthy discussion on the nature of anxiety, the increased incidents of anxiety issues as a result of COVID-19, and the role of social media in student anxiety led to the following question: “How can a Christian culture help in the conversation about mental health?”

Joanna Boyd-Wilhite, who has completed degrees in English and Theological Studies with a minor in Philosophy and an M.A. in English Literature and Religious Education, pointed out how mental health is stigmatized in the United States. “While there are clinical diagnoses, there is also a spiritual restlessness inherent in humans, and there seems to be a tendency to wrongly label and medicate for anxiety.” Boyd-Wilhite strongly advocates mental health and wants students to recognize that there is nothing wrong with asking for help when needed.

Additionally, Dr. Ben Wayman, chair of the Bastian School of Theology at Greenville University, addressed what a faithful Christian culture offers for an anxious generation. Wayman examined the concept of resting in Jesus to counter anxiety by saying, “It is God’s job to make things work out; God has us and everything in his hands…we need to give way to God’s rest.” By doing so, he said, we can find comfort where there was once an uneasiness in our lives.